He was also one of the nation’s most-famous dog lovers and animal rights advocates.
A longtime supporter and ambassador of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, O'Grady notably helped raise the profile of the shelter to millions around the world through the hugely-popular ITV series Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs.
But rather than focusing on his love for dogs, last night's documentary was instead all about the love everyone had for Paul.
Viewers left 'in tears' after ITV airs emotional Paul O'Grady tribute documentary / Credit: ITV
Thousands tuned in to watch the one-hour documentary special, For The Love of Paul O'Grady, on ITV last night, as the much-loved TV presenter's incredible career was celebrated and he was remembered and honoured by those who knew him best.
O'Grady was remembered as a "force for good" by his famous friends.
Touching tributes were paid by Carol Vorderman, Julian Clary, Michael Cashman, and Jonathan Ross on the show, while former Labour Party leader Ed Milliband, actor Tony Maudsley, actresses Linda Thornton, Amanda Mealing, and Sally Lindsay, and TV presenter Gaby Roslin also shared their memories of O'Grady.
During and after the documentary aired on ITV, fans took to social media to share their thoughts and admit that they'd been left "in tears".
"In tears tonight after watching ITV's beautiful and poignant tribute to Paul O’Grady. Fly high lovely man, we are all going to miss you so much," one fan said on Twitter.
Another fan on Twitter said they were "in bits".
One fan wrote in reaction to the documentary: "I don't think it has sunk in what we have all lost, from Lily Savage to the rescue dogs, what a man, what a legend and what a campaigner who never forgot where he came from."
"He really was universally loved," another fan said, "I have yet to hear anyone say a bad word against him. His humanity shone through. So very sad."
As the show drew to a close, a message from Paul O'Grady's husband, Andre Portasio, appeared on the screen.
"On behalf of Paul O'Grady, his husband Andre Portasio would like to thank everyone for taking their time to send condolences. The family is overwhelmed with everyone's kindness and generosity."
Featured Image - Battersea
TV & Showbiz
Adolescence tops Netflix charts with more than 24 million views in four days
New British series Adolescence has shot right to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV charts after more than 24 million people tune in.
Hitting the streaming platform just last Thursday, Adolescence is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates, with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
This truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Image: Netflix
Co-created and written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, with Graham starring alongside an ensemble cast of accomplished actors such as Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, as well as screen newcomer Owen Cooper as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside.
“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser,” Stephen Graham said ahead of the show‘s release.
Image: Netflix
“Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God, this could be happening to us.’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”
Over the course of the four intense one-shot episodes, the show shines a uncomfortable spotlight on and examines key themes such as male rage, the dangers of social media, cyberbullying, incel culture, and more.
The latest viewing figures show that Adolescence undoubtedly has been a runaway hit, with a whopping 24.3 million views amassed in its first four days of availability, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of 10-16 March.
Image: Netflix
As the show continues to garner universal acclaim, standing at 98% on notable critic website Rotten Tomatoes, those viewing figures are set to clock up thick and fast as the days go on.
While Adolescence and Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event specifically, Graham, Thorne, and director Philip Barantini have confirmed that the idea for the series did spring from reports that co-creator Graham had heard about on the news of young boys being involved in knife crimes – particularly the shocking 2021 murder of Ava White in Liverpool.
Much of Adolescence was filmed in Pontefract in West Yorkshire, with the casting of Cooper in the role of Jamie ultimately influencing where the show was shot.
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from – in this case near Warrington – because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent,” explained director Philip Barantini.
All four episodes of Adolescence are now available to stream on Netflix.
Featured Image – Netflix
TV & Showbiz
First look images released of new Channel 4 drama series set in Leeds
Ownership The Hoot
The new coming-of-age drama series will air on Channel 4 later this month.
The first look images have been released for Dreamers, a coming-of-age drama series created by Lisa Holdsworth and Gem Copping.
Set and filmed in Leeds, the series is based on characters that have been workshopped and inspired by people from the city with support from the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which was managed by the BFI and funded by the UK Government.
Image: Channel 4
The production was shot in and around Leeds and provided a fantastic opportunity for 10 Leeds-based people to break into the broadcast industry.
Production was tailored to people with no previous production experience, providing training, mentoring, one-to-one sessions, career planning and the chance to work on a major production.
Image: Channel 4
The series follows an eclectic group of dance students as they navigate the intense highs and lows of coming of age in today’s complex world – captured through stories which are as joyful and funny as they are raw and truthful, brought viscerally to life via irresistible dance choreography.
Image: Channel 4
Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Co-Founder of Duck Soup Films says: “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dreamers was born and raised in our very own city. Collaborating with such a phenomenally talented and diverse group of new to the industry creatives has been an unforgettable journey, and we are buzzing to finally bring this exceptional series to the screen.”
Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships & Skills at Channel 4 says: "4Skills is proud to fund the 10 full-time training placements on the production of Dreamers. It’s been a brilliant opportunity for these ten trainees with many of those who worked on the series now further developing their careers in the industry. Initiatives like these show the impact Channel 4 and 4Skills can make.”
The Hoot -
10th April 2023 
